2G case: Anil Ambani summoned as prosecution witness for July 26

Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group chairman Anil Ambani was on Monday summoned for July 26 by a Delhi court to depose as a prosecution witness in the 2G spectrum allocation scam case.

CBI on Monday submitted a list of five witnesses, including Anil Ambani, who are scheduled to be called for recording of their statements before the court.

According to court sources, Special CBI Judge O P Saini has signed the summons to be issued to these witnesses.

Besides Anil Ambani, CBI is calling Anant Raj Industries Ltd's Vice President (Finance) Yogesh Sharma for recording of his statement before the court on July 24.

ICICI Bank official Devendra Chandavarkar, who has earlier been examined as a witness in the case, has been recalled for his examination on July 25 along with CFSL expert Deepak R Handa.

In the list of witnesses submitted before the court, Anil Ambani's testimony is scheduled for July 26 while another CFSL expert Vijay Verma has also been called on that day.

On July 19, the court had allowed CBI's plea to make Anil Ambani, his wife Tina Ambani and 11 others prosecution witnesses in the case.

Earlier in the day, Reliance Telecom Ltd, facing trial in the case, moved the Supreme Court challenging trial court's order summoning Ambanis as prosecution witnesses.

The apex court agreed to hear the matter on July 24.

The trial court had allowed CBI's plea that the testimony of Anil Ambani and Tina Ambani may throw light on alleged investment of over Rs 990 crore (Rs 9 billion)

by his group companies in Swan Telecom, facing trial in the case along with its promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka.

The court had said CBI's plea to summon Anil Ambani, Tina and 11 others as prosecution witnesses was essential for arriving at a just decision in the case.

Testimony of Anil and Tina is required to prove the facts ‘pertaining to incorporation of shell companies as some of the witnesses examined earlier have not been able to do so," it had said.

The court had also noted that both Anil and Tina were holding responsible positions in Reliance ADA group and the ‘shell companies’ and their testimonies cannot be said to be totally unnecessary or unconnected with the case.

It had dismissed the contentions of the counsel for the accused that CBI's plea ‘suffers from the vice of delay’ saying the process of examination of prosecution witnesses is still underway.

RADAG's Group company RTL is an accused in the case. Three top Reliance ADAG executives -- Gautam Doshi, Surendra Pipara and Hari Nair -- are also facing trial in the case.

The agency had alleged RTL used Swan Telecom, an ineligible firm, as its front company to get 2G licenses and the costly radio waves.